Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;gedi two pad&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by a decorative-type inflorescence with disc florets becoming more visible with aging, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 63 days of short day length, free branching habit, purple ray florets, a very uniform round growth habit, and a large quantity of blooms per flowering branch.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema morifolium.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

[0002] The new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant is hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘GEDI TWO PAD.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The new cultivar is a product of hybridization of a female parent variety, ‘Cassano’ (undistributed in the United States) and a male parent variety ‘Ampiro’ (undistributed in the United States). The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor in September 1996.

[0004] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by apical tip cutting and meristem tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The cultivar ‘GEDI TWO PAD’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GEDI TWO PAD.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘GEDI TWO PAD’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

[0007] 1. Decorative-type inflorescence with disc florets becoming more visible with aging,

[0008] 2. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 63 days of short day length,

[0009] 3. Free branching habit,

[0010] 4. Purple ray florets,

[0011] 5. Very uniform round growth habit, and

[0012] 6. Large quantity of blooms per flowering branch.

[0013] Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the female parent variety, ‘Cassano’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar have fewer disc florets and plants of the new cultivar bloom naturally three weeks earlier than plants of the female parent variety.

[0014] Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the male parent variety, ‘Ampiro,’ however the new cultivar a wider diameter inflorescence and naturally blooms three weeks earlier than plants of the male parent variety.

[0015] In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘CLEARGAR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,300), ‘GEDI TWO PAD’ blooms earlier naturally, has more inflorescences per flowering branch, and has fewer ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

[0016] The photograph shows a plant of ‘GEDI TWO PAD’ grown in a six-inch container. One cutting was used in the pot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0017] In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Oxnard, Calif. during the month of December and January. The growing temperature ranged from 55° to 68° F. at night to 60° to 75° F. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

[0018] Botanical classification: Dendranthema morifolium cultivar ‘GEDI TWO PAD’.

[0019] Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

[0020] Parentage: Hybridization of a female parent variety, ‘Cassano’ (undistributed in the United States), and a male parent variety ‘Ampiro’ (undistributed in the United States).

PROPAGATION

[0021] Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.'.

[0022] Rooting habit: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

[0023] Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.

[0024] Height: Approximately 32 cm.

[0025] Spread: Approximately 33 cm.

[0026] Growth rate: Moderate.

[0027] Branching characteristics: Free Branching.

[0028] Length of lateral branches: Approximately 28.8 cm.

[0029] Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 85.

FOLIAGE

[0030] Leaf:

[0031]Arrangement.—Alternate.

[0032]Average length.—Approximately 5.8 cm.

[0033]Average width.—Approximately 4.3 cm.

[0034]Shape of blade.—Ovate.

[0035]Apex.—Cuspidate.

[0036]Base.—Attenuate.

[0037]Attachment.—Stalked.

[0038]Margin.—Palmately lobed.

[0039]Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.

[0040]Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.

[0041]Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near 137A. Young foliage under side: Near 138A. Mature foliage upper side: Near 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near 138A. Venation upper side: Near 144B. Venation underside: Near 138B.

[0042]Type.—Net.

[0043] Petiole:

[0044]Average length.—Approximately 2.2 cm.

[0045]Color.—Near 137A.

[0046]Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

[0047] Inflorescence:

[0048]Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5 hours, approximately 63 days of appropriate day length required to induce and develop blooms.

[0049]Inflorescence form.—Decorative.

[0050]Natural flowering season.—Approximately the last week of August through the first week of September.

[0051]Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately 21.

[0052]Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 4.1 cm.

[0053]Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.5 cm.

[0054]Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 15 days.

[0055]Persistence.—Persistent.

[0056]Changes as inflorescence ages.—Disc florets become more visible.

[0057] Ray florets:

[0058]Appearance.—Matte.

[0059]Texture.—Smooth.

[0060]Average number per flower.—123.

[0061]Shape.—Oblong.

[0062]Aspect.—Flat.

[0063]Margin.—Entire.

[0064]Apex.—Retuse.

[0065]Length.—Approximately 2.1 cm.

[0066]Width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.

[0067]Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near 77B. Upper surface at maturity: Near 78A. Upper surface at fading: Near 80B. Under surface at first opening: Near 78C. Under surface at maturity: Near 78C. Under surface at fading: Near 80C.

[0068] Disc florets:

[0069]Appearance.—Shiny.

[0070]Texture.—Smooth.

[0071]Average number per flower.—Approximately 13.

[0072]Shape.—Cylindric.

[0073]Apex.—Obtuse.

[0074]Average length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.

[0075]Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.

[0076]Color.—At first opening: Near 154B. At maturity: Near 14A. At fading: Near 13A.

[0077] Peduncle:

[0078]Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.1 cm. At lateral end (longest): Approximately 7.4 cm.

[0079]Angle to stem.—Acute.

[0080]Strength.—Moderate.

[0081]Color.—Near 138B.

[0082]Habit.—Upright.

[0083]Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

[0084] Inflorescence bud:

[0085]Length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.

[0086]Diameter.—Approximately 0.9 cm.

[0087]Form.—Globular.

[0088]Color.—Near 77A.

[0089] Involucral bracts (Phyllaries):

[0090]Appearance.—Matte.

[0091]Texture.—Lightly pubescent.

[0092]Number.—Approximately 21.

[0093]Shape.—Oblanceolate.

[0094]Margin.—Entire.

[0095]Apex.—Acute.

[0096]Length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.

[0097]Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.

[0098]Color.—Upper side: Near 137B. Underside: Near 138A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0099] Ray florets:

[0100]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1. Stigma shape: 2 branched. Stigma color: Near 3A. Style color: Near 154C. Style length: Approximately 0.5 cm.

[0101] Disc florets (hermaphroditic):

[0102]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1. Stigma shape: Two-branched. Stigma color: Near 6A. Style length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Style color: Near 154D.

[0103]Staminate.—Number of stamens per flower: 4. Anther shape: Tubular. Anther color: Near 13A.

[0104]Pollen.—No pollen detected. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GEDI TWO PAD’ as herein illustrated and described. 